Electric switch for automobiles



FRANK. W'. EEES; @3E

OTGHU GTA T121' "WSHINGTTE FFICE@ Sueeineaten ci Application "lil - auxiliary electric switch mechanism for controlling the circuits to the lights and 'to the audible signaling device. as to the horn or siren of a motor vehicle. and the object of my improvunent is to provide switch mechanism that may be rari-led ou the steering wheeliot the motor -vehicle where it may be reached without nece-ssiLatine` the 'roi'noval oi the hand from the steering wheel "and that is easily operated to open or close` the circuits to the lights and horn.

i* nother object is to provide switch ineena'nism of this nature that may be installed without alteration of the wiring' common to motor vehicles and that will operate inde-- pendently of, and will not atleet the use of, thel ordinary light and horn switches that are usually llocated on the dash or cowl of the vehicle.

A further object is to provide a of simple and ellicient construction i relatively cheap to manufacture and eaf to install and that may be sold as i cessory to be installed on ino-tor already in use.

A still further c i: o prevife of a plurality of lamp c u" be depressed when in any Y a circuit to a horn or siren.

The invention consists in the novel construction5 adaptation and combination er parts of an auniliary electric switch Yfor ecntrolling the lamp and horn circuits of a motor vehicle as will be more clearly hereinafter described and claimed.

ln the accompanying drawings Figure l is a plan view of the ,steeringN wheel o'j a motor vehicle showing my auxiliary switch applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a view of the switch withA the top cover plate i'einm'ed showingr the several parts or' the switch mechanism in plan; Fig is a view in cross sect-ion substantially on a broken line 3, 3

E'Patented Jan. 13., 1921.

-ral No. SeLflGfi.

of 2; Fig. l is a View in cross section 5f; substantially on broken line f1, L of Fig. 2; Fig. .5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view subst-antiidly on a broken line 5, of Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram showing ne convenient wiringarrangement hat may be employed when installing my itch on the ordinary motor vehicle, and i" is a, fragmentary sectional View of a modified form of contact means. f

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference numerals designate like parte, the numeral 7 designates acylindrical switch housing preferably constructed of liber and having an integra1 bottom Sand a removable cover plate 10 th: t is adapted 70 to be secured to the switch housing by screws 11 that screw into posts l2 that are rigidly secured to the bottom 8 of the housing The housing is provided naar one side with a lined ber block 13 to which a switch 75 arm, comprising an upper blade 14 and a lower blade 15 is pivoted by a. screw 16.- The two parts or blades of the switch arm are integral and are doubled or folded at the point where the arm is pivoted, the upper blade lll being bent away from the lower blade 15 at a point a short distance away from the pivot and the two blades 14 and thence extending; substantially par-` allel wltl'i, each other in spaced apart rela- 85 tion.

The free end ot the lower blade 15 of the eli arm is adaptedto rest upon and move over an arcuate liber block 17 that is provid d with two Contact serews'or binding posts 18 and 2O and with a dummy or neu-` tral post as more clearly shown in Figs. l and 5. The heads ofthe posts 18, 2O and` 21 are each preferably recessed as at 22 for the reception of a protuberanee 23 that is termed in the end of the switch blade 15 and by which such switch blade is caused to snap into contact with the several posts. T he upper blade leef the switch arm is slightly longer thantlie lower blade 15 and is provided with an upwardly projecting 2li having a removable button 29 on the upper end thereof and having ahead 2:3 on its bottoni end that forms a Contact knob on the under side of such switch blade and is adapted to be depressed into the position shown in Fig. r5 to make Contact with an arcuate metallic contact member 26 that nigga" .had

lied hy depressing the end of she swieeli 'zi-rm 14. regerdless of t ei: such arm. T project upwardl; 19 iii thezcever pluie '10. and is secured tu the liep eiid e such fr that it 'may he ed hy ehe l;

The switch a l5 i metil, ilierehj; tion and ai'e the seme l iff cient and complici devi required.

rlfhe housing 8 may here a clip 28 eeimeeted therewith by which it may he secured ic a spoke 30 of bhe steerine Wheel 3l elf a. motor vehicle.

32 is a flexible conduit hnl enters the housing 7 from one side and carries leur insulated Wires 33g 34? 35 and 36 that couiieet with `the switch erm pivot 16. the full lighil binding post 18, the dimmer binding post 2O and the horn Gentse@ binding' post 27 respectively. T he wie 33 connects wish a wire B7 that leads 'zo the buttery 38 or other source el' supply of electrical current el elle vehicle. The Wire 34 conneciis Willi s circuit wire il@ that leads te *ehe lamps l-'l of the vehicle ai 'peint between zhe lamps end a voulzrol switch l2 which is usually ou he cowl heard of the vehicle. The wire 35 connects through a resis-auce e Willi the circuit Wire 40, thereby eomeleiig a dimmer circule to the lamps.V 36 enmiecs wih a The wir), Wire i4 that leeds to s horn r audible signel device e9., the connection heilig; made ai; a Qoiixi hezweeu the llera and :i swirh iu infie here eicuir. unich usually loeaied mi the cowl of lie Vehic By the above desc the the auxiliary swr. are cut in et points unici it will he seen n .via'es', 35 and 36 sw-e' ei the lamps :md

he horn LIP-. 1 their ressjiertive control switches l2 aud l5 so elia-.shunt circuits around the swielies :u1-i i5 ure closed, but which serre 'te cuurel the flew of current -te the lamps und horn when the switches 42 :me 5 are open.

Seme meier veliiel( 1re 'wired so thai; the here er au'lihle comu-,ered en one side will; ilie other is j iu said housings'.

and the arcuate eenteef' mem-her /DG is c ueced u'ih Ahe ground wire el the horn a point between the horn and the usual switrli that eeiiirols such he The auxiliary swiich is to the left hand side of wheel so 'that as he drivers left', .e wheel. his vif thumb mav auch or huilen "D in a. lei le control l' Y l i hand grasps 1 .sin ou 'the vrs is is custema zio eniuyey s e. :lze dimmer circuit is shown, 'le in other.; smell la.- [u hulhs e provide( i1- each headlip et which are icing dim light.

sei une used for prodi la eers where the latter form of l gluing is employ/ed, the wire will Connect with the ci'- t the smaller lamps instead of cenyfieci,-

lumps through the resistruil; ing with 1he larger suce coil.

It; will be understood that changes in the ferm, dimensions :uid ai' angel/nent of parts ef this device may be resored to within. the .si-ope of the following claims.

`What l claim is:

l. .Alu auxiliary lamp and horn control swi'lcli vfor motor vehicles comprising u heus-- a plurelii)v el: separable Contact memarrauged iii spaced repare rela i'm 'Witha coui mous Contact member arranged adjecen lo d separable e0utact members, and a switch arm pivoted for oscilaiou within said housing; said switch arm compil, ug a. blade arranged to engage said separable couaet members as said switch arm is oseillated and another blade arranged io he depressed iuo contact with said eouiiuuous Contact member regardless el hc angular posiiou of said switch arm.

i swiiclref the lass described cour grrisigigg; a housing, au areuaie hi'icl; of insulating; maerial disposed le seid houfng, spaced cominci' .members iu said lili-elf7 :i een; iiiuoug' fircuale courent member mijn. uuer side o` said hlocl-c,y and hers mouuzeel switch arm l'iaving; 'lwc subst-an ceufac. i'uemher.

f fa, swilirh of iilie dass described coini housing. :au ruaie hlocl olinsuadjacel', Jhe outer ent the pivoted for oscillation within said housing is moved into various angular positions 'and .saidv switch arm comprising two integral the uppermost of said blades being longer flexible bladesffoi'med of a strip of metal than said lowermost blade and being. ar V.bent double at the 'pivoted end, thencebe'nt ranged to be depressed to make Contact With` 5 apart at a point near the pivot thereof and said continuous metallic oontaetmember for 15 u arranged to projeet outwardly in s ubstanany'and al1 angular positionsV into which ltially parallel spaced apart relation, the lo W- said Switch ,may .be turned, I V ermost' of said blades being arranged' to V Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 12th make contact at its outer end with said daypf November,19l9. 10.. spaced Contact members as said switch arm FRANK W. BEES. 

